OUIJA - A tool or a game?

[Darren]

Is the Ouija merely a board with letters and numbers which can play with our minds, or is it a method of communication with the other side?

It is generally accepted to be dangerous if not handled carefully, but is the danger from evil spirits or the impact of using the board on our thought process?

Have you used one?
What are your experiences?
Would you use one?
Should anyone use one?

At GRI we do not use an Ouija board, instead relying on instruments which can fully document any activity which may occur. At some stage it may be necessary to examine it further, not relying on it as a form of communication but to examine all the possibilities of what may actually be happening when it is used - in an attempt to remove some of the mystery surrounding it.

[Jason]

Quite an intersting yet frightening concept the Quija board, I personally have removed myself from anyone using it, I guess it's like leaving your front door open and going away for the weekend, you don't know who's going to enter your home, Perhaps if you are experienced and protected it could be a useful tool but can you really rely on what it produces???, can one control what one does not see??? and are you Physically and mentally prepaired for what you may find???, there are so many questions that one needs to address before attempting to use the Quija, especially in light of it's dubious reputation..

Jason

[Darren]

Another angle is the questions themselves - there is no solid proof that the board actually allows any form of communication from "beyond". The Philip and Skippy experiments showed that participants can "invent" a ghost.

Examining the board further may provide answers to many of the questions - is it "communicating" or merely opening various interpretations of the mind to perceived results?

Here's a post I sent on an internet forum concerning the Ouija which is relevant here:

I do believe there is enough concern about it to justify it being tested in controlled situations. If it does in fact serve as gateway then letting something through enabling it be fully documented would almost seem worthwhile!

To me most of the "danger" comes with who uses it, how it is used and how one interprets the information gathered. It is perhaps the most "active" piece of equipment available - in that it gets the human brain in the right frame of mind to interpret things a certain way. Once triggered, the power of suggestion is an incredible thing and reports of all types of paranormal events could follow. I believe the power of the mind is the most powerful thing at work during any seance (and afterwards for that matter), and is one of the many things which must be examined in order to form any real conclusion of what is being experienced.

This is not to say experiences are not real - they are very real - but there are many ways to interpret exactly what is causing the experiences. Even if evidence is gathered of a paranormal event during a seance ... if a candle was witnessed to move on command without explanation for example ... do we conclude it is a spirit from the board or the power of the human mind which some believe can cause objects to move?

Blindly believing any "results" obtained from the board can effect the credibility of any research and does little to prove whether there is communication or not. For example, a question is asked 9 times - with no direct response or just garbled movement. On the 10th time the planchette moves to "YES". Do you conclude that is proof of a spirit communicating a positive response, or a result that could be put down to mathematical coincidence or chance? Do we only accept the results we are "wanting" or give equal weight to all movement/non movement? It again comes down to interpretation - and is probably why the mystery surrounding the Ouija still remains.

Interpretation is a very personal thing and touches on our personal beliefs. Protection rituals which usually precede such seance activities also come down to such beliefs but may assist in providing comfort to participants.

At GRI we have yet to use the Ouija during an investigation but should this occur at some stage, we will certainly be looking at it from all angles and only relying on data which can be supported by fact.

Further reading:
www.museumoftalkingboards.com/theories.html
nostradamus.time-loops.net/Experiment_Philip.htm

[QVP Phil]

We also do not utilize Ouija boards. I have had too many friends who have shared their horror stories surrounding the Ouija board. It was drilled into my head early that you never offer to let something unknown have access to your bodily functions. This also includes things such as automatic writing, etc.
I am sure that the Ouija, percentage wise is a harmless game that is controlled by the users mind, but I dont want to be the one in that small percentage that has something bad happen!

[Darren]

Here's an interesting read concerning the Ouija

paranormal.about.com/od/ouijaboards/a/aa092208.htm

[josie]

I have used the oujia board a number of times and I find that alot of what comes through is to do with your frame of mind at the time.
I have never had any bad experiences with one, I always insist on saying a prayer and also performing a protective spell while using one.
I follow steps to ensure that all participants are protected and grounded and are free from anticipating a bad session. I always insist on performing a cleansing ritual before and after a sitting and refuse to partipate in a sitting with anyone who has ingested alcohol.I try to set the environment as a happy positively charged environment. to use one to freak yourself or participants out is definitely a no no in my books. I never ask questions which may predict future events, but mainly experiment with what I know to be fact. what alot of users forget to do is close the portal which you opened, with thanks to the participants who may? have come through,I release all spirits to return to where they came from and not to interact with me in my daily life unless called upon to communicate through the board.but I can honestly truly say that I have never had a negative experience. I have contacted a ex inlaw whom I never knew had passed on till she came through the board and it was a sad but wonderful experience to know that she is fine and happy in the next life. I confirmed her passing later that day when I called her daughter, her mother had passed 6 months before and me being in another country and an ex daughter in law thought that I didnt need to know. thats one of my experiences...

[Lee]

I have used a ouija board as part of a spiritual development group which I attended a few years ago. As Josie has stated, it is very important to protect the participants by opening and closing the circle with prayers, white light and/or the protection of choice. Closing the circle when finished is the most important part. As Jason has stated, it's like opening your front door and inviting whoever is passing by to enter. (Not the best idea)!!

The ouija is a tool and not a game. It shouldn't be used by the inexperienced, intoxicated, or drug induced. It must be remembered that the people who are in the circle can control who enters, and if someone questionable or threatening enters, they do have the option of evicting them by closing the circle with prayers and light. Horror stories occur when people do silly things and ask questions which are not appropriate. I have had both useful and unuseful information passed to me through the ouija. I believe that the talking boards should be used within guidelines of safety. These are my personal opinions only.

Cheers
Lee

[Dave]

Excellent question Darren. I'm kind of torn on this issue. I believe that "spirits" can communicate with us through this type of activity, but there is no scientific way to document it. It's the same thing as seeing a ghost. You know it was there, but you can't prove it unless you have the scientific implements.

[josie]

that is so true Dave, I use the ouija board but not for a while now, but i tend to find that even with scientific documentation it will always be scrutinized..there will always be someone out there trying to disprove your findings... Just my opinion...Josie

[Darren]

And now ... it's here ....

THE DIGITAL OUIJA BOARD
newsbiscuit.com/2009/04/14/digital-ouija-boards-to-bring-spirit-world-into-21st-century/

[hauntedamerica]

Just for clarification, the "Digital Ouija Board" article was found next to these headlines: ;D

"Lumley triumphant as Muppets allowed UK citizenship"

"Obama settles out of court with Bob the Builder over unauthorised use of ‘yes we can’ "

"Man who spoke to his neighbour, says: ‘It’s easy, there’s nothing to it’ "

[Jason]

LOL

Good Call!!

[Darren]

Exactly - perhaps a new catch line for the article could be:

"Thousands who fear the use of a piece of cardboard now have new cause for panic as the digital revolution brings it into the 21st century".

[ghosts1905]

Mar 24, 2009 13:08:23 GMT 10 Darren said:

Here's an interesting read concerning the Ouija

paranormal.about.com/od/ouijaboards/a/aa092208.htm

Thats a very interesting article Darren, thanks for sharing mate!

[southernparanormal]

Another interesting article about ouija boards. This article is By David G. Scott / Religious Demonologist.

www.nademonicparanormal.com/ouijaboards.html

[Darren]

A little more on Ouija boards, posting it here to see what your thoughts are.

Many feel that the Ouija board is a no no - to be avoided completely. Some sites show a NO OUIJA graphic prominently. I do believe that Ouija boards should not be used on investigations where they may have a real or perceived negative impact on the client.

Some results from completed/in progress GRI surveys indicate:
40% of people believe the Ouija board is just a piece of cardboard and plastic containing absolutely no paranormal properties.
45% Have used an Ouija board.
62% believe the Ouija board should be seriously studied, documenting results.

As researchers of the paranormal are we perhaps putting our heads in the sand by ignoring the Ouija? Are we obligated to at least study the Ouija and its impact (real or imagined), documenting results and trying to see if there's anything to it?

If the Ouija is in fact a tool which enables some form of communication with "the other side" (positive or negative) should we, as paranormal investigators, be studying it more in a manner where no clients are put at risk?

[pjay]

I have a no ouiji board logo on my site, but not because I think it's dangerous, my group just does not use one on investigations. Some of my members use them at home, but I don't allow them on an investigation. For me, they are a toy. I don't give them credit for any power. People use many things to "scry" with, mirrors, crystals, bowls of oil, pendulums, etc. I think anything that must be touched can be manipulated. If it has to be touched to work, try blindfolding the people touching it, and have an un-blindfolded person ask questions, and write down where the planchette goes. If it gives un-garbled answers under those circumstances, then you might have a good argument.

[Darren]

Good points Pjay, definitely food for thought.

[Darren]

Here's a short clip regarding the ideomotor effect and use of Ouija boards.

[pjay]

I was thinking the other day (I know... dangerous). Many groups use a prayer of protection before an investigation. I read you should use a prayer of protection before using a Ouija board to keep harmful spirits from coming through. SO.. would writing a prayer of protection around the premiter of the board and reading the prayer, before using it, keep negitive spirits from coming through???

[Darren]

Good question PJ ... I suppose it comes down to personal preferences and beliefs. I'll leave it to others to present their thoughts.

[PPI_Brian]

PPI Investigator Jason Sieckman wrote a really great article on the Ouija board after an experimentation session in an allegedly haunted location. You can read the article on our website by following this link: Ouija Board: A History

[dandy]

I have never used one. From a young age my father always forbid me to use one because of the possibilty of something evil coming through. We lived in an old house with a very persistant and somewhat melevolant poltegeist that was rapidly getting out of hand when my sister and I were babies so not knowing what to do my parents packed up and sold the house , moving us elswhere. So you can see where his apprehension stems from...

I dont like the idea of giving such an open invitation and letting anyone come through to me so directly. They may be valid instruments or they may just be a toy that plays with your mind but I don't really want to take the risk when it comes to something as serious as evil spirits.

I wouldnt rule out using one EVER, but if I did it would have to be with people who were experienced and there would be lots of prayers said

[PPI_Brian]

Penn and Teller did an episode on the Ouija board that pretty much sums up my opinion on "spirit boards".

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3